Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

glowing with loyalty . The Right Worshipful brother also gave "H . R . H . Albert Edward Prince of Wales , thc Princess of Wales , and thc members of the Royal Family , " observing how little need be urged in recommending the toast , and lhat the more they said about it the greater tlamage they mig ht do it . They all admired the lovely Princess of Wales ; all England were ready to

lay down their lives for her . He might add that at the moment they were sitting here their brother Prince Leopold was being installed in office as Master of a Mark lodge at Oxford . They would therefore add his health to the toast , and if he were present he would respond to it in a way they would all be pleased to hear . ( The National Anthem was sung alter the first toast , led by Bro .

Copeland . ) Bro . P . P . Dickenson , Mayor of Lincoln , in rising to propose " Thc Bishop and Clergy , " said he had pleasure in serving the chairman in any position he might call him to . He asketl the company as Mark Masons to join him in drinking the health of those men who by their piety showed them the way ot life and invited them to walk

therein . Bro . the Rev . A . A . Bagshawe responded , remarking that although he did not belong to this diocese he was a member of the Mark in Lancashire , and as such he had been honoured by being made the Provincial Grand Chaplain , and also the Chaplain of his lodge , of which he was very proud . Me felt a very deep gratitude to the

Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire for inviting him and the lodge to which he belonged . They came with a right hearty and especial pleasure , because they knew what a large-hearted man Bro . Sutcliffe was , whose heart was in Mark Masonry , anc" he rejoiced that he was to be the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Mark Master of Lincolnshire for the second period of three years .

Thc Chairman proposed " The Most . Worshipful the Grand Mark Master Mason , the Right Honourable the Earl of Limerick , and all other Grand Officers , Present and Past , " calling upon Bro . Roebuck , the Grantl Master Overseer , to respond . Bro . Roebuck , in acknowledging the toast on behalf of the Earl of Limerick , observed that it would be his special

privilege to report to Grand Lodge the reappointment of thc Provincial Grand Mark Master of Lincolnshire for another three years . It had been gratifying to him to find the reception that had been given to the name of the Most Worshipful Grand Mark Master , not only by Lincolnshire , but by the provinces around . He was aware thc Earl was well known in this and other counties ;

he was also known in London as a good Mark and Craft Mason , and as a supporter of the Charities . ( Applause . ) The Chairman next proposed " The Right Worshipful the Provincial Grand Mark Master Masons of other Provinces , and all Present and Past Provincial Grantl Officers . " In doing so he saiil he need not occupy their lime long in urging thc claims of this toast . The characters

of the Provincial Mark Masters were all so well known that they required no recommendation from him to insure them a hearty and cordial reception . They ought to feel highly honoured that a brother came here to-day from Newcastle to visit their provincial lotlge . He himself ( the Chairman ) felt highly complimented by Bro . Strachan , D . P . G . M . for Northumberland antl Durham , coming

amongst them . They also had Bro . Tom Perkmton , P . G , M . M . M ., from West Yoikshire . He must not forget to say that hc had not thc opportunity in lodge of reading a number of letters of apology from brethren not present , and he might inform the brethren from Lancashire that hc had received a very polite note from Bro . Le Gendre Starkie , D . P . G . M . for Lancashire , saying that previous

engagements prevented him coming . I le wished to say that for the information of the brethren from Lancashire . Bro . Strachan said he felt highly honoured in having the opportunity of thanking the Most Worshipful chairman for inviting him and thc other Northumberland and Durham brethren , and must say how honoured hc also was by the way he had received them , by thc way he had

proposed their healths , and by the way they were received in Hi- province . Bro . Pcrkington acknowledged the pleasure he felt in having his name connected with thc toast , lie had been a Provincial Mark Master 5 J years , and now his time was nearly ended . ( "No , no . " ) He had been very much cheered with what hc had seen to-day . He was very

much attached to Mark Masonry , antl it would ever live in his heart . Bro . Prince was also proud to respond for his province , whose Grand Master , like the Lincolnshire Grand Master ; was a man with a large heart . Addressing the chairman the speaker said—1 thank you , Right Worshipful Sir , for the kind support you give to Mark Masonry . You arc a

most honoured man in this district , and if others can be found like you when your time is run out we shall have cause to be hopeful for the future of Freemasonry . I trust you will accept through me the thanks of our Provincial Grand Mark Master for what you have done to-day . ( Applause . ) Bro . Perkinton again rose , and said he would give

without much preface , " Thc 1 Icalth of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Mark Master Mason for Lincolnshire , Bro . Sutcliffe . " ( Great cheering . ) Nothing hc could say would add to the esteem of those present , by whom he was so well known . The toast was drank with Masonic honours . Thc Chairman , who was received with prolonged cheers ,

said hc felt very much obliged to his brethren for the proposal of his health and the kind reception it had met with . Hc knew not what hc could say more . He valued their opinion , and allowed them to be thc best judges . He could only say hc thanked them—thanked them most heartily—for the generous reception they had given to thc toast . Hc would not sit down without taking the opportunity of proposing thc toast of thc evening , that was ,

Provincial Grand Mark Lodge Of Lincolnshire.

" The Health of the Visiting Brethren , " and he would call upon them to open their lungs and open their shoulders ( laughter ) , and to receive thc toast in a way that would be heard through Lancashire , Yorkshire , Northumberland , Cheshire , and North Wales . It was not often they had representatives from so many provinces , and he thanked them for the honour they had done the Province of

Lincolnshire in coming from all corners of those counties to the old port of Gainsboro ' . Thc Old Hall in which they were assembled would be interesting to archaeologists , and he thought they would like to visit him in that fine old hall , where they were all on a par—all on an equality , which did not exist in any other kind of assembly . ( Hear , hear . ) Having thanked them again most heartily and

sincerely , he coupled with the toast the name of an " old friend " of his—Bro . C . F . Matier . Bro . Matier , in returning thanks , said that all the compliments bestowed upon the Right Worshipful Bro . Sutcliffe had been justly made , and he could only say ditto to all that had been said in his honour . He narrated what he called a " little incident" that occurred on the

journey to Gainsboro . ' When about three miles on this side of Worksop , antl when they were going about 50 miles an hour , the driving axle of the engine broke , but he was happy to say—thanks to the Great Architect of the Universe—no fatality had occurred . He was only too pleased in coming to visit the Provincial Grand Mark Master for thc first time , and he sincerely trusted it would

not be the last . He hoped he would see him again elected for the third , fourth , or twentieth time . ( Applause . ) Bro . Roebuck also responded , saying he would be second to none in giving his adhesion to the Right Worshipful Master . It had been said he was a large-hearted man : so he was , but he was also a large-headed man , and so all woultl say if they knew him as well as they did in West

Yorkshire , where they had proved him before hc came into Lincolnshire . No better man was ever put into shoes than Worshipful Master Sutcliffe . He said it freely , and without fear of contradiction—with all respect antl without flattery—that there never was a man who worketl himself up to the position Bro . Sutcliffe now held more rapidly and more successfully than hc had done . It was only the

week before last that he ( Bro . Roebuck ) was at a meeting of Royal Arch Masons , antl if this gathering had only heard the remarks which were then passed by the brethren of the provincial chapter with reference to their brother who now presided at this meet ng , there was no one but would have been proud , and deeply proud , to have had those feelings cxpressetl towards himself . There was no

worthier man than the present Worshipful Master of their Mark lodge . The speaker then referrctl to the Masonic schools , mentioning the desire that liro . Sutcliffe had evinced to have them placed on a proper fooling . They were all , he said , actuated by one feeling , antl they wished to place those schools in a right position . They didn ' t want to have " fish for one and flesh for another , " and

hc for one wished to find out the feeling that existed in the province of West Yorkshire , and he was determined to do sn . ( Hear , hear . ) Bro . Kemp proposed thc toast of " The Deputy Provincial Grand Mark Master Mason , Bro . I lairison , antl all other Present anil Past Grantl Officers of Lincolnshire , " and reverted to Bio . Sutcliffe , saying he had made them

feel that Mark Masonry was no simple thing , anil had made them feel proud that they were Mark Masons , and whether they were recognised by Grand Craft Lodge or not it was a fact , and might she mark well . Bro . Harrison , in responding , saitl : I assure you , Worshipful Sir , we feel the honour of being here under your presidency , and hope for many years to see you at the

head of the province . I have a very pleasing duty to perform . At the last Provincial Grantl Mark Lotlge thc Provincial Grand Mark Master was kind enough to invite the officers to breakfast to Stallingboro' House . When we arrived an artist was there from Grimsby , and we were photographed in a group . We felt that we would like , as a memorial of our visit , to have it enlarged and painted ,

anil ask our Worshipful Master to accept it . I have now , on behalf of the Past Provincial Grantl Mark Officers , to request you to accept this picture as a mark of the esteem and respect of those who had thc honour of acting as your first Provincial Grand Mark Officers . ( Applause . ) The Chairman gave some account of the first production ol the photographic group . He called on the artist to

order a copy for each provincial officer , but was informed that several brethren had requested him to finish it , and he was about to do so . Therefore it was taken out of histhe Chairman's—hands altogether . It was his intention to present that group to his officers , but he was told in a sense to mind his own business , and he saw no more of it . He thought it hatl taken thc wrong turn , but still he

thought they would all agree with him that he could not be so ungrateful as to refuse the honour of accepting that handsome picture . It would not belong to him ; it would belong to Alasonry—Mark Masonry—and he felt bound to accept it ; and some day they would see it hung up in the

province ol Lincolnshire as a mark of respect to thc Worshipful Master . I accept it ( concluded Bro . Sutcliffe ) at your hands , and thank you on behalf of the family to whom you have paid this high honour . ( Cheers , ) Thc brethren then separated to return to their homes by their respective trains .

The Duke of Norfolk has announced his intention of giving pieces of open ground at Sheffield , each ten acres in extent , as places of recreation . These are in the neighbourhood of some of the largest works , and will be a great boon to the working population .

The quantity of game killed during the late visit of the Prince of Wales to thc Maharajah Dhulccp Singh ' at Elvctlon amounted to 8141 .

Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution.

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION .

The Committee of this Institution met on Wednesday last in the library , Freemasons' Hall Bro . Colonel Creaton , presided ; and there were also present Bros . S . Rawson , Griffiths Smith , W . Levy , Thomas Cubitt , William Stephens , Hyde Pullen , A . H . Tattershall , Joshua Nunn ,

James Brett , Thomas W . White , J . Newton , j . M . Case , Richard Hervc Giraud , Henry G . Warren , Charles F . Hogard , John Constable , Dr . Erasmus Wilson , J . G . Hill , W . F . Nettleship , W . Lane , H . Massey ( Freemason ) ; and James Terry , Secretary .

After reading the minutes Bro . James Terry informed the Committee that he had read a letter from Bro . R . H . Collins , on the part of His Royal Highness , Prince Leopold , P . G . M . for Oxfordshire , announcing that H . R . H . would take the chair at the annual festival on the 14 th

February . This letter was dated 18 th November , but he had subsequently received another letter from Bro . Collins , dated the 30 th November , altering the date for the festival to Monday , the 12 th February . Bro . Terry then read the Warden ' s report in

which that brother informed the Committee that Dr . Strong had presented to the Asylum at Croydon a number of flowers and shrubs for the garden . The petitions of seven men and six women

were received , examined , and passed , and as some of these came from the Province of Devon , Bro . John Constable . P . M . 185 , asked how many male and female annuitants there were at the present time on the funds of the Institution from the Province of Devon .

Bro . James Terry said there were ten men receiving . £ 40 each , or £ 400 a year , four widows at £ 32 each , or £ 128 a year , and one widow receiving half her late husband ' s annuity , or gg 18 a

year ; making in all , £ 54 6 a year from this Institution for the Province of Devon . Bro . Constable asked whether Devon was not the largest province in this respect on the Institution .

Bro . Terry said he thought East Lancashire was receiving over c £ 6 co . Bro . Constable thought that as the festival of the Institution was approaching , it would be but fair to the Institution to solicit the Province of Devon and its Grand Master for its ^ support on that occasion .

The Chairman said thc number of Devonshire cases in the Institution was certainly an argument in favour of that province being asked to support the institution as much as possible oa that occasion .

Bro . James Bell asked Bro . Constable how he was going to do it . Bro . Constable said by letter . Bro . Terry obtained leave for thc use of the hall of the asylum for the Christmas entertainment to the aged inmates on the 3 rd of January .

Bro . S . Rawson gave notice that he would at the next meeting move an alteration of one of the rules of the Institution to the effect "That in thc event of a widow marrying again , and being again left a widow , she shall still be eligible as an annuitant . " He said that he was

induced to bring this forward in consequence of what took place at last meeting , when the existing bye-law would not allow the widow of a Mason who subsequently married a non-Mason and again became a widow , to be eligible . He thought that this was never the intention when the rules were framed .

Bro . J . W . Case said that believing , as was formerly stated , that the existing rule was inconsistent with general usage he had made enquiries and found that other funds were different to this fund . In the navy , while the widow was under coverture she lost her pension : but in the

event of her losing her second husband her former status reverted to her . That was also the case in the Army ; and on enquiring at the Indian Office found that the same rule with one exception , existed . He had also been many years

connected with the Naval Benevolent Society , where the rule was that under coverture a widow was deprived of thc benefit of the fund , but in the event of her becoming again a widow it revived . All the brethren felt that they should